-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Jackson , Mississippi , high school basketball coach is accused of whipping students for `` failing to run basketball plays correctly , '' according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by three students .

Coach Marlon Dorsey acknowledged he `` paddled '' students , but he defended it as a way to `` save these young men from the destruction of self , '' the court filing said .

A school district spokeswoman and its attorney would not confirm whether Dorsey has been suspended , but he has not shown up to teach or coach at Murrah High School in recent days , according to the students ' lawyer . The suspension was apparently for 28 days without pay , attorney Lisa Ross said .

Dorsey is still employed with the district , spokeswoman Peggy Hampton said late Thursday afternoon .

The students are still attending classes and are playing on the boy 's varsity basketball team , Ross said .

One senior was whipped `` daily and sometimes more than once daily by striking him three times across his buttocks each time '' with a `` five to ten pound weight belt , '' the suit said .

One beating was captured on video , the suit said .

Jackson School Superintendent Lonnie Edwards Sr. , who viewed the video , said it `` certainly shows a reflection of inappropriate behavior . ''

In a Thursday statement , Edwards indicated the matter has been resolved .

`` In taking action , the school district considered the seriousness of the circumstances , prevailing policy , input and concerns from parents and the athletes involved , and Coach Dorsey 's overall employee performance record . Since this is a personnel matter , no further details will be provided to the public by the school district . We do not want to violate Coach Dorsey 's privacy rights . However , you may be assured that this situation has been addressed . ''

The three students were beaten for `` no legitimate purpose whatsoever , '' but Dorsey accused them of `` failing to run basketball plays correctly , '' the suit said .

`` He told them they had the choice to accept the licks without complaining to anyone or forfeit the opportunity to play basketball for their high school team , '' it said .

The coach verbally abused basketball players , calling them `` sissy , '' `` bitch , '' `` wimp , '' and `` soft , '' it said .

Dorsey has not commented to CNN , but the lawsuit filing included a statement issued by the coach after the whipping allegations hit the news media .

`` I paddled my students ... today , some of -LSB- sic -RSB- students have lost pride in their school and in their -LRB- sic -RRB- selves . Students are disrespecting teachers , administrators and other students by stealing cell phones , leaving off campus without permission , disrupting classroom teaching time , late for class and not following dress codes by wearing the pants on their butts and house shoes to school and on-court behavior . I took it upon myself to save these young men from the destruction of self and what society has accepted and become silent to the issues our students are facing on a daily basis . ''

Principal Freddrick Murray is also named as a defendant . The suit claims that students and parents told him about the whippings , but he failed to investigate or stop them .

The school district 's website says corporal punishment is prohibited .

CNN 's Aaron Cooper contributed to this report .

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Three high school students file lawsuit against coach

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Lawsuit : The beatings were for `` failing to run basketball plays correctly ''

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The coach says he was saving students from their `` destruction of self ''

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Marlon Dorsey is not teaching or coaching now